Study Aims - The purpose of this project
Social determinants of health (SDOH) have a profound effect on the healthcare delivery system. Systemic influences in healthcare lead to major differences in how often illnesses occur, how they are diagnosed, and how both physical and mental health conditions are treated. Even though decades of research have highlighted health disparities and more people now recognize the impact of social factors on health, meaningful change still seems far off. Additionally, there are alarmingly few proven strategies to address the conditions and practices at the provider and organizational levels.
What is the Endpoint of the Study?
This project will transform health optimization research in integrated primary care and provide a foundational community-engaged process model for developing a working baseline in healthcare policies and practices within a variety of systems:
Primary Aim 1:
Using Group Model Building (i.e., a participatory stakeholder systems science approach), identify the leverage points where disruptive innovations in healthcare behaviors, policies, and practices can improve health equity.
Primary Aim 2:
Design a simulation model to demonstrate the impact of such healthcare interventions.
Secondary Aim: Using Item Response Theory, initiate the process of developing core measures for assessing the effects of healthcare interventions at the provider and organizational-systems level as specified in the primary aims
THJC: What is next?
As THJC keeps doing our work, we want to keep you updated. We’ll share helpful info about what we’re learning and health news in our communities. Here’s what’s next:
- SHARING what we are learning through easy-to-understand pictures, academic papers, and presentations.
- MAKING a map of the healthcare system based on what we are finding out about how it works for patients.
- HOSTING focus groups where people from the community can give us their thoughts and advice on what we are learning and how to make health care better.
- THINKING of ways to improve healthcare outcomes through developing interventions.
- FIGURING OUT how to keep doing this important work even after our funding runs out by planning with the community for long-term sustainability.